I started Be More with Less 5 years ago and thanks to you, we’ve created a thriving community of people who want to live with less stuff to make room for full, beautiful lives.

Writing for you over the past 5 years has been a tremendous blessing. You helped me find my voice, and find my way. Because of that, every day, I ….

• Do work I love and care about.
• Work with people who lift me up, and let me lift them right back.
• Have the time and clarity to take care of myself.
• Own less and love more.

All of those things are because of you. I had an idea, and the willingness to share it, and then you brought it to life. You encouraged me, shared my stories, and celebrated your simplicity wins with me.

I’m so grateful for your contribution and I want to demonstrate my gratitude with:

The Best (most meaningful) Anniversary Giveaway Ever

If you are here for kitchen appliances, luxury vacations, or a brand new car, you might be disappointed, but if you are here for what really matters, for the stuff that makes a full life sweeter than a full house, I’ve got your back.

We know these gifts are the most meaningful, but based on the highs and lows of life, they aren’t always within our reach. Please take the ones you need most right now, and give the others away. Someone in your life needs one of these gifts right now.

Presence
If you are stuck in the past, or worried about the future, use this gift to come back to where you are right now. Hold this one, precious moment. Look around, take it in. Be present for the people in your life, and for what matters most to you. I know you’ve heard it before, but you can’t change anything that has already happened, or be completely certain about what happens next. The remedy for the angst or fear that may cause is the present.

Gratitude
In my experience, being grateful makes the good times better, and the hard times easier. There is always something to be grateful for. Find and acknowledge those things everyday and you’ll build resiliency and a deeper appreciation for what you have.

Patience
If things aren’t happening fast enough, and that’s frustrating for you, consider that things are happening at the rate in which you can handle or fully appreciate them. Use the frustration as a reminder that you aren’t in control, that there are other things in motion, and that things will unfold in their own time. Rushing, pushing, or willing something to be more immediate will cheat you of what will result if you give it the time and space to be what it is.

If it’s people you are losing patience with, consider this thought someone shared with me. Perhaps the people who test your patience were put in your life to help you develop patience. If you want to know the qualities you need to work on, look at the people in your life. They are there for a reason.

Curiosity
Question things. Experiment. Ask, “what would happen if …?” and then try it. Be curious about your health, your life, your surroundings. Add playfulness to your curiosity and you’ll feel ten years younger, almost immediately.

Clarity
My word of the year is clarity. Clarity doesn’t override uncertainty, but it’s the gift that allows you to see clearly, make decisions with confidence, and to open up to not knowing. When you do that, you make room for the knowing.

Compassion
You may need this for others or for yourself. We are always hardest on ourselves, but compassion says,

• “It’s ok.”
• “you are enough.”
• “I love you.”

Compassion doesn’t solve problems, or try to fix things. It only recognizes that at the heart of where ever you are, it’s ok. We can fix things later.

Stillness
When was the last time you sat still for the sake of sitting still. Your body, mind, heart, and soul need time during the day to be quiet and still. Taking that time will only contribute to all of the other things demanding your time. This quote from Gandhi is a great reminder of that, “I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.”

Hope
This is the gift that rescues me from fear time after time. When you are worried, or scared, turn to hope.

Health
If you aren’t feeling well, struggling with a chronic condition, or craving better health overall, make it your priority. When you put your health and vitality first, you can better serve the people around you. Eliminating stress is how I reclaimed my health, and detail that process in this 60 minute video course. Your good health will invite all of these other gifts into your life.

Love
More love. Always more love.

Permission to let go
Letting go isn’t easy until it is. I hope you’ll use this permission slip to let go of whatever isn’t serving you, or adding value to your life. From stuff in your home, to regret, anger, winning an argument, comparison, perfection and self-doubt. None of those things make you stronger, happier, healthier, or more receptive to what matters most. Let it go.

By getting rid of things that don’t matter, we make space in our homes, time in our lives and love in our hearts to embrace and appreciate the real gifts.

Microcourse Giveaway

To continue the celebration, I’m giving away a microcourse of your choice to 5 people who comment below. Comment with the course you’d like to win, along with a gift mentioned above that you need most, or another gift that you think people can use.

Choose from the following courses:

• How to Create a Meaningful Morning Routine
• Dress with Less and Create a Capsule Wardrobe
• Zero to 100: A microcourse for beginning bloggers
• How to Create a Microbusiness that Matters

I moderate comments, so your comment won’t show up right away, but please only comment once and don’t include links in your comment. I’ll pick 5 winners by random drawing on Monday, May 11th.

Celebrating 5 years of Be More with Less makes me think about the next 5 years. I have new ideas on what I want to create and how I want to better serve you and spread the message of hope in simplicity, and I’ll be sharing that with you in the coming months. Today though, I think I’ll stay right here. I want to be present for the celebration, for the joy, and for the gratitude I have for your kindness, vulnerability, support, and love.

Thank you.